In Kerala, certain groups are turning sub-district school arts festivals into a commercial opportunity, offering to supply judges in bulk even before the events begin. Their focus has been on arts festivals in Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, and Malappuram districts.

Sub-district arts festivals are hosted at schools, with a teacher acting as programme convener. Ensuring the presence of the required judges on competition day is often a challenging task for organisers. With multiple competitions scheduled on the same day across different sub-districts, the shortage of judges has created an opportunity for ‘quotation groups’ to step in. These groups claim they can supply judges for hundreds of categories at the festival, contacting schools directly and reaching out to organisers.

The groups offer to coordinate a large number of judges at once, taking on hefty quotations. While previous years saw such isolated interventions, this year the practice has become widespread. They are approaching not only programme conveners but also conveners of Sanskrit and Arabic literature festivals. Retired officials and teachers from senior positions in the education sector are reportedly behind these groups.

Teachers note that experienced judges will not be willing to accept the small remuneration proposed by these groups. As a result, the chance of getting judges with the knowledge and experience needed for proper assessment is almost impossible.

The combination of organisers’ reluctance to handle the workload and the financial incentive offered by quotation groups has drawn many organisers to them. Teachers have voiced criticism against these groups on social media forums, highlighting the dilution of judgement standards.

Promises of convenience and control

The ‘quotation’ groups approach organisers with the promise of eliminating the headache of coordinating hundreds of judges and ensuring their attendance. This assurance is welcomed by organisers. Those not heeding are attracted with monetary benefits. These groups assure organisers that experienced and well-known judges can be provided at the fees demanded (by judges). They also claim that judges who do not set high rates can be hired for a lower amount. Interestingly, for new entrants, the pride and appeal of serving as a judge at the school arts festival are additional pull factors.

A concerning trend

“Offering judges in bulk is not the right approach. I had poor experiences at sub-district festivals in previous years due to unqualified judges. Qualified individuals should be identified through proper channels,” said K.C. Sreedevi, a prize winner of last year’s state school arts festival.